Quick release coupling



Sept. 15, 1959 A. A. BRICKHOUSE, JR

QUICK RELEASE COUPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1957 FIG. I

INVENTOR. Abner Alexander BrickhouseJc ATTORNEYS BY 2,2 w; 34

p 1959 A. A. BRICKHOUSE, JR 2,904,353

QUICK RELEASE COUPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1957 FIG.4

, FIG. 5

FIG.6

ATTORNEYS United States Patent QUICK RELEASE COUPLING Abner A. Brickhouse, Jr., Sidon, Lebanon, assignor to Trans-Arabian Pipe Line Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 14, 1957, Serial No. 690,032

1 Claim. (Cl. 285-33) My invention relates to fluid conduit connections and in particular provides a quick release coupling.

In some sea-loading installations for oil tankers it has been found desirable to employ a submarine hose connected to the shore installation which is picked up by a tanker moored oifshore to provide fluid connection between the tanker and the shore installation. Ordinarily the submarine hose at its oifshore end is provided with a plug and is attached to a marker buoy such that after mooring next to the buoy a tanker can pick up the buoy and then draw and secure the submarine hose alongside the vessel, the hose is then unplugged and connected to appropriate conduit fittings on the tanker. A secure coupling uually requires bolting a conduit on the tanker to the end of the submarine hose. Such sealoading operations employing submarine hose have the disadvantage that they cannot be readily uncoupled in emergencles. Thus, for example, should a storm suddenly ise, as not infrequently occurs, the time to uncouple the submarine hose and plug it is on the order of four or five minutes which is frequently longer than is safe for the tanker to remain moored. In order to insure the safety of the tanker and its personnel it sometimes is necessary for the tanker to leave such a sealoading mooring before the submarine hose can be uncoupled. The hose is consequently parted, and substantial loss of oil frequently occurs.

It is therefore a particular object of my invention to provide a hose coupling for connecting a submarine hose to a vessel, such as an oil tanker, which in an emergency can be released rapidly without damage to the hose or vessel.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a coupling for connecting a submarine hose which allows the use of clamps which can be rapidly released in the event of emergency.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide such a submarine hose connection which can be positioned entirely outboard of the vessel such that upon uncoupling of the hose it can rapidly be plugged and dropped.

It is still a further object of my invention to provide such a rapid release coupling requiring a minimum of parts and which is readily installed and released with a minimum of auxiliary equipment.

These and other objects of my invention which will become more apparent hereinafter are essentially obtained by hauling the end of the submarine hose in alongside of the moored vessel with the end of the hose facing upward. The flange on the end of the hose is then con nected to the flange on the end of an elbow connected to a hose leading to the vessels pumping equipment and storage tanks to communicate the vessels tanks with the shore installation. The flange on the end of the hose and the flange on the end of the elbow are held together by two pairs of longitudinally divided clamps, i.e., splitclamps. One pair of split-clamps are placed facing each other over the flange on the elbow and the other pair of split-clamps are placed facing each other-beneath the in accordance with my invention assembled for flange on the end of the hose. The adjacent clamps, which lie on the same side of the hose and elbow, are then bolted or otherwise connected together to clamp together the flanges on the end of the hose and on the end of the elbow. Each of the clamp elements carries a wing member at each end such that in position an adjacent pair of wings extends away from the connection at each end of each confronting pair of clamps. Each such adjacent pair of wings is provided with a confronting pair of slots, one in each wing. The clamps are, moreover, aligned, vertically such that their wings are aligned and such that the slots in each upper pair of adjacent wings register vertically with the slots in this correspond- I ing lower pair of wings. Wedges are then freely placed in the upper slots and the gear is then ready for rapid release when necessary. By the simple expedient of driving the wedges downwardly with a sledge hammer, the bolted pairs of clamps are driven away from each other and ofl the flanges on the elbow and hose. Suitably the hose is then plugged and released overboard. This release operation requires a period of time from 30 to 60 seconds. Ordinarily when a rapid release is not contemplated, the assembly is installed without the wedges, but ready to receive them. In this case the submarine hose and elbow are also held together by a pair of bolts located diametrically opposite each other in the spaces between the split-clamps.

For a more complete understanding of the practical application of the principles of my invention, reference is made to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a coupling constructed quick release;

Figure 2 is,a fragmentary end'view of the coupling shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating the quick release action of the coupling;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the gear shown in' Figures 1, 2 and 3, but assembled for normal usage when quick 7 noted that two pairs of clamps are positioned confronting each other directly over a second pair of confronting clamps such that one upper and one lower clamp are adjacent to each other and such that the other upper and lower clamps are adjacent to each other. For the sake of clarity, the upper pair of confronting clamps are designated by the reference numerals 14 and 15 and the lower pair of confronting clamps are designated with the reference numerals 16 and 17, with clamps 14 and 16 adjacent to each other, and clamps 15 and 17 adjacent toeach other.

It will be observed, referring for example to Figure 4, that each clamp consists of a flat arcuate clamping portion 18 from which extends at one end a short wing member 19 and at the other end a long wing member 20. Wing members 19 and 20 are made dilferent lengths for the purpose of facilitating manipulation of the clamps during installation. Each wing member 19 and 20 is provided with a hole 21 located near its base adjacent to clamping portion 18 for receiving a bolt or other fasten-g.

Patented Sept. 15, 19 59 ing, device. Each wing is also provided with a vertical slot 22 in its inner edge facing the adjacent wing of the confronting clamp. Slots '22-ion each end of clamp are r moveden-emd: s e-fr ms h eu t fsu r t s.

ofitheinassociated clamping; portion: 18 Eachl-clamplis alsoeprovided:wi th;aperipheralboss;23; atjthe center of its clamping portion which, extends; away ironnzthe center of:cunvature.- Each-boss23. carries a: snitable-bolt hole and-in-theecase of clamps 114 and 15 also carries .outwardly of the= clamp an eye;ring-25. Each clamp i s, moreover,- provided ateach endqof' its clamping, portion 18 adjacent to-the;base of eachwingzlQ-and 20,4with a cutaway 26.

In-assembling-v the quick releasef eouplingof my inven tion a submarinehosegll s hauledalongsidetvessel andvis secured -by-. a--chain tor-the, vessel. Desirably ta Weak 'iiflk';27a11541159111211 in chain 27 for, example by. in-

sertingta length [ofltwisted'canvas in chain27 Link 27at is thenylaicl over a wooden block '28 resting on the .deck :of

vessel-'10s The -pluga29, in hose-112, is thenre'moved; Thereaften elbow 13,.disconnected fromshipboard hose 11;is, hoisted by a deck crane-intoaposition with its lower end-flange 30'abutting-and aligned with the upper end flange 31ontsubmarine=hose :12. With a gasket-suitably and-16',--are then positioned with theclampingportion 18.

of clamp 14 resting over the upperlface of-fiange 3,0rand withathetclamping portion --18 of clamp 16 held just beneath-the-lowen faceot flange 31:, on base 12, the heads of bolts 32 being received in cutawayportions .26. Clamps 16 Land-14 are during-thiscperation aligned with 'the long wing-.19 on each clamp adjacent to the short winglOj'on. the other clamp. Held in this position, clamps 14, and

16 are thensecuredtogether by ,means-of bolts 33- and nuts 34, with a bolt 33 extending through both pairs of registering: bolt holes 21 and, through thepair of registering bolt holes 24. Suitably a short piece, of line 35 ,is

secured'to eye ring 25 on clamp 14 andfto a D- i'ing 36 fixedto elbow 13s,; Clamps and 17 are then installed in the same manner on the. opposite side of elbow 13 and hose lland-are secured to D- ring'36 by apiece of line 35 in the identical manner. I h

Referring-morerparticularl-y to Figures 4; Sand .6, an adjusting device in the form of a T37 is .placed 'with its=crossmember-lying-over each adjacent pair of wings 19 andt at theoppositeendsiot clamps 14 and 15 with its longend depending between the adjacent pairs ofwings 19sand -20a Thesecuredpairs. of'cla'rnps 1,4 and 16,an d,- clamps 15 and 17 are thenuadjusted towardeach other such that T members 3.7.can. just. be slid outfrom between their adjacent wings 19Ian'd 20.? In this condition nutsz34 are tightened down-to hold clamps 14,15, 16 and 11 firmly; against flanges 3.0and 31'. Unlessquickrelea'se is anticipated thecoupling is left'in this conditionrhose 11 is coupled to elbow 13; and :fiuid communication'be tween the; tanker and shore installationis established,

conditions indicate, however, ,tha'tfan emergency re-, I quiring quick release of hose 12 may arise, two wedges 38 are employed. Eachwedge 38' inclu'de'sjan. upper. wedge portion {39 and alowerwedgeportion 40' having substantially the sameangle of taper. Upper wed e portion 39' and lower wedge portiort40 'arejoined by a short'portion' 41 which is substantially narrower than the distance be tween each adjacent pair of wings 19' and 20 and the distance between the tapers on wedge'portions-39 and 40 is just shorter than-the distance between adjacent bolted clamps-14-and1 6 -or clam-ps15 'and 17. Upper wedge portion 39 carries an eye ring-42 to which is securedthe end-'of-a line 43 whose other end-is secured to --D-ring- 36 onelbow -13.

Thetwo wedges-3:8 am then placedjin' position; First removing' l' members 37;; and holts 32; one :wedge '38 is similarly positioned at theopposite side ofthe gear- (see Figures 1 and 2).

If anaemergency release: becomes necessary, ,with wedges 38 in place, the order is given to cease pumping. When pumping pressureis offi as indicated by a suitable pressure gauge 44 mounted on elbow 13, wedges 38 are struck with a sledge hammer which drives them downwardlypfirst pushing the. adjacent bolted pairsof clamps 14 and 16 and clamps 15 and-17 apartrat their upper ends and-then,v as lower portion 40 of wedge 38, drives into' slots 22 inclamps 16 and 17, pushingthelower ends'of the confronting bolted-clamps apart. These are thereby rapidly released: from; contact with, flanges 30 and 31 on' elbow 13and hose 12,-completely disconnecting elb'ow' 13 and;hose -1-2 as-seen in Figure 3. If time permits, plug 31 is replaced-in-the open end of submarinehose 12. Weak linls27a-in chain "27 is then struck with-an axe where it passes -.-overwooden block.28; to 'drop hose 12,: and the quick; release operation is completed.

I claim:

A' quick. release couplin gdevice for securing abutting flangedendsof a pair-of adjacentconduit sections which includesvfour clamps, :eachclamp including a curved clamping-portion less than and a pair of wings; a said wing-extending outwardly from said clamping portio'n" fromv each-end thereof, one pair of saidfclamps' being posit-ionedcontronting each other withtheir 'cla'rnping portions extending about one of said conduit sections adj jacent to-the flanged end thereof'with the pair of wing members-ateach. end of said one pair of clampsiconfront-" ing'and'spaced" from each other, the other pair of said" clampsqbeing positionedconfronting each other with their clamping: portions extending about the other ofsaid"ad jacent conduit sections adjacent to the flanged end thereof with the pair-0t wing members at each end of said other pairofconfrontingclamps confronting and spaced from each other andaligned with the wing members of said one pair of confrontingtcla mps, thereby each clamp'of'sa'id" one pair being adjacent to a different clamp of said other pair', means-fasteningtone-adjacent pair of clamps together as aunit over said abutting flanges on one side of said; adjacent conduit sections; means fastening the other pair of adjacent clamps together over said abutting flanges; on the other side of said adjacent conduit sections as a 'unit separate from said one pairof adjacent clamps,'thereby securing saidadjacent conduit sectionstogethen by"sepa-: rately fastened pairs of adjacent clamps, a slot located in'= each wing' member of each said clamp confrontingthe corre'spondingislot in the, adjacent wing memberof the confronting clamp and aligned with the corresponding slot in the adjacent wing member of the'adjacent clamp-anda pair ofwedges, one of saidwedges being positioned'be- 'tween the confronting slots in one adjacent pair'of wing I clamps.-'

H .e o fgllbwins P e 5 References Cited in the file of this patent 1,351,573 UNITED STATES PATENTS gg gg' g Re. 18,906 McGuirk Aug. 1, 1933 117,980 Cate Aug. 15, 1871 5 307,648 Holland Nov. 4, 1884 4 374 401,996 Brogden Apr. 23, 1889 1066132 813,437 Landau Feb. 27, 1906 6 Hopwood Aug. 31, 1920 Rader Apr. 29, 1941 Taylor Aug. 25, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 25, 1876 France Jan. 20, 1954 

